Sabaody Archipelago was in chaos.
As the closest point to the World Government and Marine Headquarters, it was the most logical escape route from Mariejois.
There were only two paths out: one led to Marine Headquarters, the other to Sabaody Archipelago. It didn't take a genius to figure out which way a few thousand slaves would run.
The Marines could have pursued them at this point and recaptured all the slaves. Unfortunately, they had fallen for Dragon's diversion. A large number of their forces were away on Secon Island and hadn't returned. Sengoku would absolutely not send out the remaining few.
What if Dragon had a trump card up his sleeve? What if Sengoku sent out his last remaining forces, and Dragon was waiting with another plan?
It was just slaves. If they were gone, they were gone. If the World Nobles demanded they be recaptured in the future, they could send forces back then.
"That's truly something else…"
Standing beside a bar in Sabaody's Grove 13, a woman in her late twenties or early thirties with neat, short black hair and a slender figure watched the pandemonium while smoking a cigarette. "I can't believe the World Nobles were holding this many slaves."
The woman was named Shakky. Decades ago, she was a pirate who was hunted by Garp. Now, she was retired, living in Sabaody where she owned a bar that also served as a front for an information brokerage called Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
"I almost didn't make it back," Rayleigh said, sitting on a wooden crate nearby and sipping some liquor with a lingering sense of dread. "Guess who I ran into?"
Shakky glanced at Rayleigh and put her cigarette down. "I'll take a guess. Hmm… Alucard?"
Rayleigh looked at her as if he'd seen a ghost. He knew Shakky had a knack for knowing things, but it was usually based on careful reasoning built from her intelligence network. This time, there was no information about his encounter. How did she guess?
"Looks like I was right. You're not leaving for a month," Shakky said with a smirk that was almost imperceptible to the average person.
Rayleigh looked like a wilted persimmon. "Can you at least tell me how you knew?"
"It's simple," Shakky explained. "How many people in this world can injure you, and hit you directly in the face at that? Whitebeard is sailing far away in the New World. While Kaido wanders, he wouldn't go to Mariejois for no reason. Charlotte Linlin, a master strategist, would never do anything to antagonize the government at a time like this. Among the pirates, that only leaves Alucard. Those rookies are still a long way from a match for you."
She paused for a moment before continuing. "As for the Marines, Garp, Zephyr, and Sengoku are far away in the New World. That only leaves Kong. But your question was, 'who did I run into,' which implies someone who took you by surprise. It's clearly not Kong. The only remaining possibility is Alucard."
Rayleigh chuckled bitterly to himself. Some people truly are more knowledgeable than others.
Suddenly, Rayleigh noticed the figures of three small girls in the distance. He immediately stood up and walked into the bar, which surprised Shakky. She followed his gaze, wondering what about three little girls could make Rayleigh run inside.
With a mischievous smile, Shakky waved at the three girls. "Hey there, girls, wanna come in for a drink?"
The Boa sisters noticed Shakky greeting them. Upon hearing her words, Marigold touched her throat and said to Hancock, who was walking in front, "Onee-sama, I'm so thirsty."
"We don't have any money," Hancock replied.
"No worries, no worries. I can give a little credit to kids," Shakky said with a gentle smile.
Hancock found her kindness odd, but she was honestly in agony. The run had been exhausting, and they were under immense pressure.
When Shakky brought the three sisters inside, Rayleigh's face was as bitter as if he had just eaten a bitter gourd. "Why did you bring them in?" he asked Shakky.
"What's wrong? Are they one of the little girls you've tricked before?" Shakky teased. She knew Rayleigh had a habit of chatting up young women, but he never acted on it. He just enjoyed the banter, so she had never interfered.
"Ah, Dark King Rayleigh!" Sandersonia pointed at Rayleigh and shouted his name, startling Shakky, who realized these little girls knew his true identity.
Rayleigh coughed deliberately. "Ahem, I'm just a coating mechanic now. Please, don't call me by that title, okay?"
"What about the man who fought with master? How is master doing now?" Hancock asked, her concern focused on Alucard's safety.
"Master?" Shakky's brow furrowed. That term immediately made her think of the relationship between the World Nobles and the slaves wandering outside.
"He's better than me. How could anything happen to him?" Rayleigh sighed. "I came out of retirement for the first time in a while, and all it brought was trouble."
"Such is life, Rayleigh."
A voice suddenly broke the silence, drawing the attention of the five people inside. Alucard's body passed through the bar's wall. His hands and head had already entered the room, while the rest of his body was still outside.
"Master!" Hancock exclaimed with surprise and delight, while Sandersonia and Marigold watched with a mixture of surprise and awe.
"What in the…?" Shakky's expression finally became grave. The injuries on Rayleigh were caused by Alucard, which meant he was an enemy, not a friend.
"Ah… these three beautiful ladies seem to be his crewmates," Rayleigh said, already up and prepared for a fight.
"Crewmates?" Shakky was even more confused. "According to my information, Alucard has been a lone wolf for nearly ten years and has never had any crewmates or companions."
"Well, now he does." Rayleigh stood up. Even without his weapon in hand, he was still the "Dark King." "Alucard-kun, are you here for a fight?"
Alucard's body had fully passed through the wall. He was now wearing sunglasses, unlike when he was in Mariejois. "I have no interest in fighting a retired old man."
Alucard glanced at the three girls. "Let's go."
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